Dali & Donnacha O'Brien pictured on their way to victory© Photo Healy Racing
The Aidan O'Brien trained Dali took the feature at Naas this evening, the Listed Midsummer Sprint Stakes.
Successful over the course and distance last May, the son of Scat Daddy went down by just a head in a valuable handicap at the Curragh on his most recent outing.
Sent off a joint-favourite at 9/4 this evening, he got to the front after a furlong, and was ridden with a furlong and a half left to race, keeping on well from there to score by two lengths.
UK raider Mirza (11/1) finished second under Kevin Manning for Rae Guest, while Snowstar (8/1) was another length and a quarter back in third with Billy Lee aboard for Willie McCreery. Son Of Rest (backed from 3s on-course) was the other joint-favourite, and he finished fourth.
"He had a good run the last day and was maybe slightly unlucky," the winning rider said.
"It's nice to get a win into him and he did it nicely in the end.
"He bends his knee a little bit so he gets through soft ground but he doesn't stay very far so I think that's why he's probably better on quick ground.
"He's getting it together and five furlongs suits him, he has plenty of pace."
On Royal Ascot he added: "It's the biggest week in the calendar so I'm looking forward to it."
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
